Women who eat chicken while pregnant give birth to boys with smaller penises, according to 'shock-tactic' animal rights group Peta.

In an attempt to ruffle feathers at last weekend's National Buffalo Wings Festival, in Buffalo, New York, Peta wrote to organisers to warn of the effects of the chemical phthalate which is found in chicken flesh.

The letter from Peta’s Lindsay Rajt, to festival founder Drew Cerza, reads: 'The latest scientific evidence shows that the sons of pregnant women who consume chicken are more likely to have smaller penises because of a chemical found in the birds’ flesh.

A wing and a prayer: Animal rights group Peta attempted to upset organisers at the National Buffalo Wings festival by suggesting pregnant women who eat chicken give birth to boys with smaller penises

'Findings published by the Study for Future Families showed that eating poultry during pregnancy may lead to smaller penis size in male infants.

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'In addition, eating cholesterol-laden chicken flesh during pregnancy may also increase unborn babies’ risk of being born with blocked arteries, which can lead to strokes and heart attacks later in life.'

But don't toss out that drumstick just yet.

According to Woman's Health magazine, the research was for the Study for Future Families did not actually look at chicken consumption at all.

While it did identify a link with prenatal phthalate exposure and penis size, chicken was not found to be a food with particularly high levels of the chemical, with spices and fast food packaging being the worst culprits.

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Shanna Swan Ph.D., a professor in the department of preventive medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, who conducted the research PETA cites, told Women's Health: 'I think any link between eating buffalo wings—even by pregnant women—and the size of their son’s genitals is very tenuous.'

Peta are known for using controversial tactics to highlight the issue of animal suffering including nude models, throwing buckets of blood and a children's comic entitled Your Mommy Kills Animals.

However it appears their latest stunt failed to deter food fans at the Buffalo Wings festival with an estimated 40 tons of chicken wings being consumed.

And in a potentially Peta-pleasing gesture, a meatless alternative was offered for the first time in the festival's 12 year history.